Jun
28

Braun’s single in 9th sends Brewers by Rockies 3-2

KDWN

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ryan Braun was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning that scored a run and had an RBI single in the ninth, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night.

Mark Reynolds led off the ninth with a single off reliever Matt Belisle (2-3) and advanced on a sacrifice by Jean Segura. Scooter Gennett pinch hit for Francisco Rodriguez (3-2) and was intentionally walked. The runners advanced on a passed ball by catcher Michael McKenry. After Rickie Weeks went down swinging, Braun drilled Belisle’s first pitch up the middle.

Josh Rutledge tied the game when he homered off Rodriguez with one out in the ninth. Rutledge hit a 3-2 pitch that just barely cleared the wall in left for his second homer this season.

Rodriguez was trying to help Kyle Lohse win his third straight start. Lohse has been victimized by five blown saves this season.

He allowed one run on seven hits over seven innings and came within two outs of beating the Rockies for the second time in five days. Sunday, he pitched five innings and allowed three runs on seven hits in the Brewers’ 6-5 win in Colorado.

Rodriguez leads the majors with 27 saves, but this was his third blown one of the season.

The Brewers’ NL-leading record (50-32) is the best in team history through 82 games. They have 13 games left to top the team record of 54 wins before the All-Star game. The Brewers also improved to 5-0 in the season series with the Rockies.

The Brewers went ahead 2-1 in the seventh.

Khris Davis doubled off Nick Masset to start the inning and Reynolds followed with a walk. Both advanced on a sacrifice by Segura. When Lyle Overbay was announced as the pinch hitter for Lohse, the Rockies brought in Rex Brothers. The Brewers countered with Martin Maldonado, who struck out swinging. After Weeks walked, Adam Ottavino came on to face Braun, who was 0 for 3, and hit him with the first pitch. Jonathan Lucroy hit into a fielder’s choice for the third out.

The Rockies scored their run in the seventh on a sacrifice by pinch-hitter Brandon Barnes that scored Rutledge.

The Brewers scored first when Lucroy chopped an RBI single over second base off rookie Tyler Matzek in the sixth. Lucroy’s hit scored Weeks, who hit a lead-off double and advanced on Braun’s grounder to second.

Matzek went six innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out three. It was a better performance than when he lost to Milwaukee in his last start. On Sunday, he allowed five runs on seven hits in 5 1-3 innings.

Lohse and Matzek each pitched out of identical jams in the fourth.

Matzek had runners at the corners and two outs when Davis hit a sharp line drive that left-fielder Corey Dickerson caught. Lohse also had runners at the corners before Ryan Wheeler flied out.

NOTES: Rockies C Wilin Rosario, who left Thursday night’s game with lower back tightness, missed the game. Colorado manager Walt Weiss said that the injury was not serious, but enough to keep him out of the lineup. . Rockies RHP Nolan Arenado (broken left middle finger) heads to Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday for a rehab assignment. . Troy Tulowitzki’s double in the fourth was his 400th career extra-base hit. . RHP Matt Garza (4-5, 3.20 ERA) faces Colorado’s RHP Jhoulys Chacin (1-6, 4.84) on Saturday.